B-ME is a research intervention study designed to address the needs of African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) who are at high risk for HIV. The intent of the intervention is to decrease HIV risk behaviors among African American MSM using an intervention developed by and for African American MSM.

The hypothesis guiding this study is: that participants who complete B-ME intervention will report greater reductions in sexual risk behaviors than the standard of care comparison group.

B-ME is a behavioral intervention of HIV prevention risk reduction administered in a group format during a 2.5 day retreat (19 hours) format.

No Intervention: Control Arm

Men in this arm will receive monthly text or telephone voice messages relaying general health messages.

Detailed Description:

The Specific Aims of this study are 1) to further explicate and develop the intervention, 2) to evaluate its efficacy in reducing HIV risk behaviors and 3) to expand the limited body of research on HIV prevention/risk reduction practices for African American men who have sex with men(AAMSM). The study will use a randomized-controlled trial design to compare receiving B-ME intervention to receiving basic men's health and wellness messaging (standard of care), hypothesizing: hypothesizing: that participants who complete B-ME intervention will report greater reductions in sexual risk behaviors than the standard of care comparison group. The study will utilize a pre-test/post-test design with participants randomized to intervention and comparison groups; have a strategy to retain at least 80% of participants through study completion; collect data at baseline, at 3 months post-intervention, and at 6 months post-intervention; and rigorously measure outcomes that directly impact HIV risk. Data will be collected at each assessment point to assess B-ME's ability to improve behavioral outcomes that directly impact Black MSM HIV risk: (1) number of unprotected anal and vaginal sex events; (2) number of unprotected sex events with persons of unknown HIV status; (3) frequency of HIV testing, and (4) increased communication between partners about sex and strategies for reducing the risk of HIV infection.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 55 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

a) Be 18 to 55 years old b) Self identify as African American (Black national) c) Self identify as a male (because this is a study of an intervention to impact change among Black MSM, only self identified males will be included, therefore no females or transgendered identified persons will be included).

d) Report being sexually active in the past 30 days (ie., one or more instances of vaginal or anal sex with a male or female) e) Report at least one instance of unprotected anal or oral sex with a male identified partner in the past year f) Have not previously participated in the CTCA intervention. g) Have not received an evidence-based HIV prevention intervention in the past 180 days

Exclusion Criteria:

Men are ineligible to participate in the trial if they:

Identify as a transgender woman; OR

Plan to move before the end of the study; OR

Have participated in any HIV or substance use prevention studies in the last 180 days.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01722838